Courtesy photo
Milton Elementary School fourth-grade students pose with Gov. Maggie Hassan after visiting the state capitol building last week.

MILTON — Fourth grade students from Milton Elementary School traveled to the state capitol building recently and met Gov. Maggie Hassan, many of them shaking her hand in while visiting in the Executive Council Chambers.

The governor met with approximately 40 students and chaperones as school teachers Marianne Doane and Katherine Cahoon sought to introduce their classes to the world of politics.

Doane told Foster’s this was their third consecutive year traveling to Concord for a class field trip.

“We went after we had studied the election process and followed the presidential and governor’s race in the news,” she explained. “In fourth grade, part of the curriculum is studying government.”

Doane noted students were excited to meet various politicians, including Rep. John Mullen (R-Strafford) who accompanied the two classes on a tour of the state house. Students also met Sen. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and asked both how they got so far in their political careers.

Hassan also shared some words of wisdom with children.

Doane said many of the students asked why each person ran for office and were surprised to learn members the House of Representative and U.S. Senate earn only approximately $100 a year.

“We had a couple of students that would like to be a representative and president,” she said.

When students returned to Milton, they wrote poems that will soon be mailed back to the governor, thanking her for her time and sharing what they enjoyed most about meeting her.

Students also attended the play “Laura Ingalls Wilder: Growing Up on the Prairie” at the Capital Center for the Arts during their time in Concord. Students watched a reenactment of a scene titled “On the Banks of Plum Creek” which was in their grade’s reading textbook.

Doane told Foster’s many of the students had never seen a live production before and they greatly enjoyed it.